Method for controlling training machine

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a training machine is provided. Data of the force applied to a reciprocation means of the training machine by a user with the reciprocation means being locked as the reference force in the forward direction is obtained, and the forward load opposed to the force in the forward direction applied by the user and the backward load opposed to the force in the backward direction applied by the user are determined. Also, a load more than the reference force is applied to the reciprocation means as a backward load opposed to force in the backward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the backward direction of the reciprocation means. As such, a relatively large load can be applied to the user when the user contracts or stretches the muscles to work out.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a load applied to the handles and other parts of a training machine used for weight training.

BACKGROUND

Machines utilizing weights or motorized loads have been developed for weight training. Methods for controlling these machines have also been developed to apply an appropriate load to users. There are some examples as follows.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-163108 discloses a training apparatus including a handle that is movable with an exerciser's operation, a motion conversion mechanism that mutually converts the movement of the handle and a rotational motion, a motor having a rotating shaft which is configured to rotate in conjunction with the movement of the handle through the motion conversion mechanism and a control part that controls a torque of the motor. This patent publication also discloses a method for controlling the training apparatus which sets a target value varying with the acceleration, position, or time of the handle and adjusts the load on the handle.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-175670 discloses a method for controlling an exercise machine which determines an exercise load to be exercised by a user based on a force applied on the exercise machine by a series of the user's exercises (exercise characteristics) and information such as the age and sex of the user (attribute information).

According to the training apparatus of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-163108, because the load can be provided by the motor, but weights are not required, the training apparatus can be made more compact. It is also disclosed that controlling the motor allows the user to apply a load in the similar way to that of an apparatus using weights to adjust the position of the handle to which the load is applied and vary the load applied to the user based on the time to work out. However, it has not been disclosed the method to control the load, namely, what kind of or how much specific load should be applied to effectively build muscle of users.

While Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-175670 discloses the method for the exercise machine to determine the exercise load based on the user's exercise characteristics and attribute information, there is a problem in that it takes time and effort to input the attribute information.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforementioned problems a method for controlling a training machine which is simple to operate and can effectively build muscle of users is provided.

Such a method for controlling a training machine, which includes:

a reciprocation means being capable of reciprocating of a linear translation or a pivotal motion, a force obtaining means for obtaining data of load applied to the reciprocation means by a user, and a load applying means for applying a load to the reciprocation means and includes:

a step in which the force obtaining means obtains the data of the force applied to the reciprocation means by the user with the reciprocation means being locked as a reference force applied in a forward direction of the reciprocation means; and

a step in which the load applying means applies a load less than the reference force to the reciprocation means as a forward load opposed to force in the forward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the forward direction of the reciprocation means, and then or prior thereto, the load applying means applies a load more than the reference force to the reciprocation means as a backward load opposed to force in the backward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the backward direction of the reciprocation means.

Because the data of the force applied to the reciprocation means by user with the reciprocation means being locked at any position in the range of the movement of the reciprocation means as the reference force in the forward direction is obtained, and the forward load opposed to the force in the forward direction applied by the user and the backward load opposed to the force in the backward direction applied by the user are determined, a determination of load to work out can be simplified.

Also, because the load applying means applies a load more than the reference force to the reciprocation means as a backward load opposed to force in the backward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the backward direction of the reciprocation means, a relatively large load can be applied to the user when the user contracts or stretches the muscles to work out. Thus, the user can effectively build muscle.

In addition, when a method for controlling a training machine comprises including a position sensor to detect both of a starting position and a terminal position of the range in which the reciprocation means is moved by the user and the load applying means is configured to control preventing the reciprocation means from moving to the outside of the starting position and the terminal position, the user's safety is ensured.

In addition, whenever a single reciprocation cycle is repeated a respective forward load and a respective backward load corresponding to a respective position of the reciprocation means are each lower than a previous forward load and a previous backward load corresponding to the respective position of the reciprocation means of a previous reciprocation cycle, so that the user can build muscle effectively.

In addition, when it is configured that the forward load is increased gradually with the movement of the reciprocation means in the forward direction and then decreased therewith, and the backward load is increased gradually with the movement of the reciprocation means in the backward direction and then decreased therewith, the user can further build muscle effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process in one embodiment of a method for controlling a training machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of the relationship between a reference force, a forward load, and a backward load in the method of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-2. The present invention is not, however, limited to these embodiments.

A method for controlling a training machine of the present invention is applicable to an existing training machine including a reciprocation means being capable of reciprocating a linear translation or a pivotal motion such as a chest press, a leg press, a shoulder press, a triceps press, a hip adduction, a hip abduction, a pec fly, a rear deltoid, a lateral raise, a lat pull down, a seated rowing, an arm curl, an assisted chin-up, a leg extension, a leg curl, a lying leg curl, a glute, a back extension, an abdominal crunch, a torso rotation, and a calf raise. The reciprocation means of these training machines can be a handle or grips grasped with hands, a bar on which the user puts one's shoulders, arms or legs, and a plate pushed with the user's sole of the foot.

A method for controlling a training machine according to the present invention includes a step of obtaining data of force applied to a reciprocation means by the user and a step of adjusting a load applied to the user. Therefore, the training machine includes a force obtaining means for obtaining the data of the force applied to the reciprocation means by the user and a load applying means which applies a load to the reciprocation means. Specifically, the training machine can be configured so that the force is applied to the reciprocation means by the user through a wire or a belt by utilizing a motor, a cylinder (including air pressure and hydraulic pressure), or a combination of a motor or a cylinder and a brake mechanism. In addition, the training machine can be also configured to obtain the data of the force applied to the motor or the cylinder of the reciprocation means by a sensor.

The training machine can also include a position sensor to detect both of a starting position and a terminal position of the range in which the reciprocation means is moved by the user. The position sensor can be any known sensors, such as a mechanical switch or an optical sensor. Since the training machine with the above configurations is already well-known, detailed descriptions are omitted.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process in one embodiment of a method for controlling a training machine according to the present invention. When the user starts to use the training machine, a reciprocating range determination process S10 is executed. In the reciprocating range determination process S10, both of a starting position and a terminal position of the range in which the reciprocation means is moved by the user are detected by a position sensor. At this time, preferably, any load is not applied to the reciprocation means.

The starting position and the terminal position of the reciprocation means can be detected while making a single reciprocation cycle. Any one of the maximum, minimum, or average value can be also adopted as the starting position and the terminal position after making multiple reciprocation cycles. The load applying means can be configured to control preventing the reciprocation means from moving to the outside of the starting position and the terminal position as determined above so as to ensure the user's safety without any assistant who assists in working out. Alternatively, the reciprocating range determination process S10 can be skipped, when the position sensor is not provided with the training machine.

When the reciprocating range determination process S10 is complete, a reference force determination process S12 is executed. In the reference force determination process S12, the data of the force applied to the reciprocation means by the user with the reciprocation means being locked is obtained as a reference force applied in the forward direction. The obtained data of the force as the reference force can be stored in a primary storage medium such as a flash memory or a secondary storage medium such as a hard disk.

In the reference force determination process S12, the obtained force can be force applied in either one or another direction in which the reciprocation means moves linearly or pivots. Specifically, in the case of a chest press, the obtained force can be force applied in the direction in which the user pushes the reciprocation means (away from his own chest) or pulls the reciprocation means (closer to his own chest). Regardless of either one or another direction in which the force is applied, the data of this force is obtained as the reference force applied in the forward direction. It is desirable that the reference force is the maximal voluntary contraction of the user. This allows the user to build muscle most effectively when the training machine applying this method.

After the data of the force is obtained as a reference force in the reference force determination process S12, a forward load applying process S14 is executed. The forward load applying process S14 is preferably started when the reciprocation means is at the starting or the terminal position. In the forward load applying process S14, a load applying means applies a load less than the reference force to the reciprocation means in the opposite to the forward direction of the reciprocation means as a forward load when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the forward direction of the reciprocation means.

A backward load applying process S16 is executed when the reciprocation means at a predetermined position, the terminal position, or the starting position. In the backward load applying process S16, the load applying means applies a load more than the reference force to the reciprocation means in the opposite to the backward direction of the reciprocation means as a backward load when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the backward direction of the reciprocation means. Accordingly, since the user needs to move the reciprocation means in the backward direction with the load more than the reference force, the user applies force against the load more than the reference force in the backward direction so that the user can efficiently achieve eccentric contraction of the muscle to be trained.

Speed at which the reciprocation means moves in the backward direction can be adjusted in consideration of the safety of the user. In a single reciprocation cycle of the reciprocation means, the forward load applying process S14 is usually followed by the backward load applying process S16, but the backward load applying process S16 can be followed by the forward load applying process S14.

As described above, according to the method for controlling the training machine, the data of the force applied to the reciprocation means by the user with the reciprocation means being locked can be obtained as the reference force applied in the forward direction, and the forward load opposed to the force in the forward direction of the reciprocation means applied by the user and the backward load opposed to the force in the backward direction of the reciprocation means applied by the user can be determined. In this way, an operation for determining the load for training is easy.

In both of the forward load applying process S14 and the backward load applying process S16, the load applied to the reciprocation means can be constant, but the load can be varied corresponding to the position of the reciprocation means. One embodiment of a load applied to the reciprocation means in the forward load applying process S14 and the backward load applying process S16 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

The forward load and the backward load can be varied corresponding to the position of the reciprocation means. The forward load and the backward load can be configured to be lower than the previous forward load and the previous backward load of the previous reciprocation cycle whenever a single reciprocation cycle is repeated. This configuration allows the user to move repeatedly the reciprocation means easily. Thus, the user can further build muscle effectively.

With reference to FIG. 2, the horizontal line p shows the position of the reciprocation means, and for convenience, the starting position of the reciprocation means is represented as 0 and the terminal position thereof is represented as 1. The vertical line KL shows the load in kilogram-force (kgf), and the reference force obtained in the reference force determination process S12 is represented as Fmax. Fmax*2 is a line showing the twice of Fmax. In the following explanation, for convenience, Fmax is represented as 1. As described above, it is desirable that the reference force is the maximal voluntary contraction of the user, however, the reference force is adjustable depending on the physical condition of the user.

According to the method for controlling the training machine shown in FIG. 2, in the forward load applying process S14, the forward load FS is increased gradually with the movement of the reciprocation means in the forward direction, and then the forward load FS is decreased therewith. Specifically, the forward load FS is increased according to the function KL=1.89p+0.27 (0≤p<0.26), and KL=0.53p+0.26 (0.26≤p<0.71), and then the forward load FS is decreased according to the function KL=−1.04p+1.74 (0.71≤p<1.0). When the position p of the reciprocation means is 0.71, the forward load FS is equal to the Fmax.

In the backward load applying process S16, the backward load SS is increased gradually with the movement of the reciprocation means in the backward direction, and then the backward load FS is decreased therewith. Specifically, the backward load SS is increased according to the function KL=0.05p+0.27 (0≤p<1.49), and then the backward load SS is decreased according to the function KL=−1.06p+2.28 (0.71≤p≤1.0).

As described above, in the forward load applying process S14 and in the backward load applying process S16, the forward load and the backward load can be varied, such as gradually increased and then decreased, with the movement of the reciprocation means. With this configuration, the user can build muscle more effectively. Each line of the functions can be different in the forward load applying process S14 and in the backward load applying process S16. The lines can be modified to build muscle effectively corresponding to a training machine including the method of the present invention.

According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a method for controlling a training machine that is simple to operate and can effectively build muscle of users. 

1. A method for controlling a training machine comprising: a reciprocation means being capable of reciprocating a linear translation or a pivotal motion, a force obtaining means for obtaining data of load applied to the reciprocation means by a user, and a load applying means for applying a load to the reciprocation means, the method comprising: obtaining, via the force obtaining means, data of a force applied to the reciprocation means by the user with the reciprocation means being locked as a reference force applied in a forward direction of the reciprocation means; and applying, via the load applying means, a load less than the reference force to the reciprocation means as a forward load opposed to force in the forward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the forward direction of the reciprocation means, and then or prior thereto, applying, via the load applying means, a load more than the reference force to the reciprocation means as a backward load opposed to force in the backward direction applied by the user when the user applies force to the reciprocation means in the backward direction of the reciprocation means.
 2. A method for controlling the training machine of claim 1, wherein the training machine further includes a position sensor to detect both of a starting position and a terminal position of the range in which the reciprocation means is moved by the user, the method further comprising preventing the load applying means the reciprocation means from moving to an outside of the starting position and the terminal position.
 3. A method for controlling the training machine of claim 2, wherein a respective forward load and a respective backward load corresponding to a respective position of the reciprocation means are each lower than a previous forward load and a previous backward load corresponding to the respective position of the reciprocation means of a previous reciprocation cycle whenever a single reciprocation cycle of the reciprocation means is repeated.
 4. A method for controlling the training machine of claim 2, wherein the forward load is gradually increased and then decreased with the movement of the reciprocation means in the forward directions; and wherein the backward load is gradually increased and then decreased with the movement of the reciprocation means in the backward directions.
 5. A method for controlling the training machine of claim 1, wherein a respective forward load and a respective backward load corresponding to a respective position of the reciprocation means are each lower than a previous forward load and a previous backward load corresponding to the respective position of the reciprocation means of a previous reciprocation cycle whenever a single reciprocation cycle of the reciprocation means is repeated.
 6. A method for controlling the training machine of claim 1, wherein the forward load is gradually increased and then decreased with the movement of the reciprocation means in the forward directions; and wherein the backward load is gradually increased and then decreased with the movement of the reciprocation means in the backward directions. 